(FEB NEWS) The Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Airlangga (FEB UNAIR) conducted an institutional visit to the Faculty of Economics and Business, Trunojoyo University, Madura (FEB UTM) as an effort to strengthen academic and institutional cooperation. This activity was attended by the Vice Dean I of FEB UNAIR, Prof. Dr. Tika Widiastuti, SE., M.Si., along with the management of study programs and strategic units of FEB UNAIR, and was carried out at FEB UTM by involving the heads of faculties and postgraduate programs of FEB UTM as strategic partners.
In the context of higher education, the challenges faced by universities today are the need to improve the quality of research and scientific publications, expand access to further studies, and strengthen the real contribution of universities to the local community. The Madura region, in particular, still needs a strengthening of the academic ecosystem that is able to encourage collaborative research and community empowerment programs based on economics and business science.
Responding to these challenges, FEB UNAIR and FEB UTM held a strategic discussion led by the Dean of FEB UTM Prof. Dr. Sutikno, SE., ME., together with the Director of Postgraduate Program FEB UTM Prof. Dr. Bambang Haryadi, Ak., CFrA, ACPA, CMA. From FEB UNAIR, this discussion was also attended by the Coordinator of the Master of Management Science Study Program Rahmat Heru Setianto, SE., M.Sc., Ph.D.; the Coordinator of the Master of Economics Study Program Dr. Ni Made Sukartini, SE., M.Si., MIDEC.; the Coordinator of the Doctoral Program in Economics Prof. Dr. Deni Kusumawardani, SE., M.Si.; and the Head of the Entrepreneurship, Internship, and Industrial Relations Unit Dr. Dien Mardhiyah, SE., M.Si.
The discussion discussed opportunities for collaboration including joint research and publications, development of Madurese community empowerment programs, as well as support and facilitation of further studies at the master's and doctoral levels. This collaborative approach emphasizes improving the quality of education, strengthening research capacity, and developing inclusive and sustainable institutional partnerships.
Through this activity, both faculties gain strategic benefits in the form of opening up opportunities for cross-institutional research collaboration, increasing the capacity of lecturers and postgraduate students, and potential social impact through research-based community empowerment programs. This initiative aligns with efforts to promote quality education, strengthen innovation, and foster sustainable partnerships between universities.
Going forward, the collaboration between FEB UNAIR and FEB UTM is planned to continue to be developed through structured joint programs, both in the academic field and community service. The commitment of both faculties is reflected in the follow-up plan in the form of formulating a collaborative research agenda, increasing joint publications, and strengthening support for advanced studies as a real contribution to human resource development and empowering the Madurese community.